Italy: War Merit Cross to an Italian “POW” with original award document. For Sale
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Italy: War Merit Cross to an Italian “POW” with original award document.:
$225.00
Italy: War Merit Cross to an Italian “POW” with originalaward document. This War Merit Cross wasawarded to Italian soldier Giuseppe Vercillo, 11th ArtilleryRegiment, by the Republic of Italy for meritorious conduct while held inGermany as a prisoner of the Germans between 8 September 1943 and 8 May 1945. Officiallydesignated “Italienische Militärinternierte” by their German captors, over onemillion Italian soldiers were captured by the German Army after the Italiansurrender on 8 September 1943; those that refused to fight for Mussolini’sfascist Italian Social Republic or in German “volunteer” units—some 600,000--weresent to Germany and interred in labor camps under Operation Achse. The Germansconsidered the Italian prisoners to be traitors, and therefore refused to givethem prisoner of war status—which also denied them Geneva Conventionprotections. They were used as forced labor in war industries, mining andagriculture.Poorly fed and cared for, anestimated 37,000 to 50,000 died in captivity. Giuseppe Vercillo was one of the morefortunate internees, and was awarded the War Merit Cross under Law n. 571, 4May 1951: “Concession of the War Merit Cross to soldiers interned in Germanyand Japan after 8 September 1943.” The award document is dated 4 December 1950,and is in overall fine condition. There is a very small tear in the upper left handcorner of the document; a few old staple holes in the upper right hand corner;and several horizontal and vertical folds. There is also a faded area in theleft hand corner where the cross was once attached to the document; they werelikely framed under glass at one time. The cross is in very fine condition, onthe faded and tattered original ribbon. Authenticity guaranteed; 14-day returnprivilege (30 days overseas), excluding postage, provided items are returned insame condition when sold. Items will be shipped USPS Priority Mail; will combinepostage for multiple purchases. Overseasbuyers will be invoiced for shipping costs.
Titles of Distinction
- Hero of the Soviet Union
- Hero of Socialist Labor
- Pilot-Cosmonaut of USSR
- Dist. Military Pilot USSR
- Dist. Military Navigator USSR
- Dist. Test Pilot USSR
- Dist. Test Navigator USSR
- Distinguished Pilot USSR
- Dist. Navigator USSR
Orders of Distinction
- Order of Lenin
- Order of October Revolution
- Order of the Red Banner
- Order of Suvorov
- Order of Ushakov
- Order of Kutuzov
- Order of Nakhimov
- Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky
- Order of Alexander Nevsky
- Order of the Patriotic War
- Order of Red Banner of Labor
- Order of Friendship
- Order of the Red Star
- Order Service to Motherland
- Order of the Badge of Honor
- Order of Honor
- Order of Personal Courage
- Order of Glory
- Order of Labor Glory
- Order of Mother Heroine
- Order of Maternal Glory